A promise, kept for a century.
It started with a wedding-night dinner.
In 1927, Joe and Antoinette Ghiringhelli celebrated their wedding night at a hillside lodge tucked into the Fairfax hills – a property first opened in 1916. Charmed by the land, the young newlyweds made each other a quiet promise: one day, they’d own it.
A decade later, in 1937, they did. To mark the occasion, Joe planted a grove of redwood saplings on the property. Those saplings are the towering trees couples marry beneath today – nearly ninety years of continuous growth, still shading the same ground where the promise was made.
Nine decades, one grove.
1916
A lodge opens in the Fairfax hills, long before it becomes a wedding destination.
1927
Joe & Antoinette Ghiringhelli hold their wedding-night dinner here and make their promise.
1937
The promise is kept. The property is purchased, and the redwood grove is planted.
1950s
Deer Park Villa becomes a known gathering place across Marin County.
2000s
The grove matures into “the Enchanted Forest” – the venue’s now-signature ceremony backdrop.
2016
Deer Park Villa celebrates its centennial – one hundred years since the property first opened as a lodge in 1916.
Today
Our greatest joy is welcoming couples on the most important day of their lives—adding your love story to a legacy nearly a century in the making.
OVER 100 YEARS
Of welcoming celebrations
Rooted in beauty, built for celebration.
For over a century, this setting has been maintained with a simple purpose: to preserve the majestic beauty of the redwoods and provide an authentic place to gather.
Free from corporate scripts or impersonal management, our entire focus remains on delivering world-class service and sharing in the joy of your wedding day.
Three constants across nearly a century.
A living botanical sanctuary
Beyond our towering redwoods, the estate features lush gardens with over 100 species of plants and massive vintage oak trees that frame the grounds in timeless natural beauty.
Daily care, flawless beauty
Our full-time groundskeeping team cares for the property every single day—ensuring every garden, deck, and grove is meticulously prepped and immaculate for your celebration.
Exclusive property access
Exclusive access to the property on your wedding day ensures the highest level of romance, total privacy, and an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.
Walk the same ground Joe planted in 1937.
Request a private tour and pricing guide – no obligation, just a walk through the redwoods.